Expansible connector



June 29, 194s. W, MAUCH 2,444,360

EXPANSIBIJE .CONNECTOR Filed Feb. 1e, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 1 JNVENTOR. W/ZL Y Hl/Uff.

Arroz/ver,

`June 29,1948; w. MAUCH 2,444,360'

EXPANSIBLE coNN'EcToR v l Filed Feb. 1e. 1945 l 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. M y MHK/CH.

to its outer or extended position by coiled springs 28 disposed# injthe channels `I5 and I6. The springs engage' clo'sedends 29 of the channels and the ends 30 and 3l of the bars I8 and I9 respectively.

yThe springs 28 are so constructed and arranged that when expanded the slide-member I'I is moved to its outer or extended position ready for p adjustment to cause the pawls 22 and 23 to engage teeth 32 and 33 or a ratchet 33' carried by the foldable-member I2. This member I2 may, as shown, be formed with flanges 34 and 35 to provide the teeth 32 and 33 and inclined surfaces or cam members 36 and 31 for purposes to be described.`

When the Afoldable members I0, Il and I2 are in clo'sedor folded relation the member II seats betweenV the `flanges 34 and 35 of the member I2. The cover-member, Ill seats overfthe member II and the flanges 34 and 35 are disposed between the channels I5 andy I6 ofthe member Ill. This brings the teethV 32 and 33 in position to be engaged by the pawls 22 and 23, When the slidemember I 'I is ymoved inwardly for adjustment purposes.

When the slide-member II is in its extreme outer` position and the foldable members are in closed relation the pawls 22 and 23 are disposed in depressions or notches 38 and39. The connector may: then be operated as shown in Fig. 7 to adjust the slide or take-upmember I1 to contract the connector` and tighten the bracelet about the'w'rist.

When making this adjustment of the connector the thumb is appliedtoithe extended end of the slide-member while one nger holds the top member I from lifting as the slide-member is moved,V

to cause thepawls to travel over the upper sur.- faces 4I of theteeth ofthe ratchet as shown in Fig. 4, As the slide-member is moved inwardly to an adjusted position the pawls drop into elongated slots 40 between 'the teeth. Since the springs 28 exert a force to move the slide-member in a reverse direction a release of the slidemember permits the springs to move the pawls to the ends of the slots 40 on the teeth. Thus when the pawls are disposed beneath the extended teeth the teeth or extensions thereof serve as lock members preventing accidental lifting or unfolding of the foldable members, as shown in Figs. and 6.v

When it is desired to open the connector the thumb is pressed against thel slide-member as shown in Fig. 8 and this member is moved against the opposition of the springs until the pawls ride up the inclined surfaces or cams 36 and 3l. Th'ismovement of the pawls causes the cover I to lift and the foldable members to separate and readily open to expand the bracelet for removal over the hand. j A

As above described-the slide-member may be moved from its extreme outer position to an adjustedposition. It will be evident, however, that even if the slide-member is in an intermediate position the-foldable members may be closed since the pawls will entera slot and immediately thesprings will cause the pawls to be held beneath the extended teeth to lock the foldable members in fixed relation. Furthermore it is not necessary to move the slide-member to its extreme inward position to release the foldable members. If the slide-member is moved sufciently in opposition to the springs to bring Lthe pawls from beneath the .extended teeth and 4 the cover member II) is lifted the foldable mem-r bers will be released. The opening of the clasp whenthelslidezmember isunot inits extreme inward position mayor maynot be practiced depending on the desire of the user since whereas the extreme inward movement of the slide member automatically separates the foldable members,

it is necessary for the user to exercise some degree of manipulation to release the foldable members when the pawl andratchet are engaged. The complete inward-movement is a simple operation, and serves to lift the cover member Ill, greatly simplifying the operation of opening the clasp, which is Ian advantage in devices of this type.

It is also possible with the present construction to close the connector veven-if rthe slide-member is. in such position .that the pawls are over the ratchet since pressure on the cover member will 'cause the pawls to enter a slot between teeth and the springs will instantly cause the pawls to move beneath the extensions of the teeth and lock the foldable members in closed relation. e

The above described invention may be modified in specic structure as for example instead of tWorows of teeth only one row may be necessary, particularly in the small-ersize device as provided for a ladys wrist watch.

Furthermore, instead of the rigid pin type pawls a spring or resilientpawl 42 may be employed as shown in Fig. 11. This pawl may be attached to or may be stamped from the cross piece 2| of the slide-member I1. In this construction ratchet teeth 43 are provided with slots inclined with respect to the pathv of movementof the pawl 42 during its travel with the slide-member I'I. The slots are soformed as to provide teeth 43 with inclined surfaces to engage the pawl which will be held againstan inclined surface of a ltooth by the expansive action of the springs 28. Figs. 12 and 13 show a construction in which the cover is opposite tothe rear side of the ratchet so that the pawls travel between the bottom member and the ratchet teeth. g

In accordance with the foregoing description the pawls 22 and 23-.engage the/ratchet upon movement between the teeth andthe top member and as shown an extreme inward movement of the slide-member; I Icause the pawls to ride up cams 3vand 3'I to separate the foldable members. In Figs. 12 and 13 a.` slide-members@ is-provided with pins or pawls l5 and 46 to engage with teeth 41 and 48 of a ratchet 49. In this constructionA the top-member or cover 5B is generally the same as the coverinember` Ill connected to the bottom member by vmember 59'. The bottom member 5I is of` trough shape having flanges 52 and 53 folded over to provide material for the formation of the teeth 4I and d8a These teeth as'shown are inclined and'project toward the bottom `member BIJAsV the slide-member 44 is moved inwardly the pawls ride'over the teeth in oppositionto a force exerted by springs 55 disposed in channels 5G and 5l. As the'pawls travel the release of the;.slidemember permits the springsfto cause the pawls toentera slot at the adjusted position of the slide-member. When the pawls have moved into the slots the springs hold the pawls firmly in place While the inclined formation of the teeth serves to prevent a lifting of the top-member whereby the foldable members are locked in xed relation. When it is desired to open the connector by unfolding the foldable members,the slideemember is moved inwardly in opposition to the action of the springs -until the pawls pass the last ofthe teethof the ratchet.

When the pawls clear the teeth a rele-ase of the slide-member permits the springs, which have been compressed, to expand and the pawls ride over cam surface 58 and since the pavvls are integral with the slide-member and the slidemember is carried by the top-member, it will be evident that the top and bottom foldable members will be forced apart, facilitating the operation of unfolding the foldable members to expand the connector. The slide-member is obviously free to move to its outer or extended position under the action of the springs 55, hence the complete opening or expansion of the connector is substantially automatic.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the present invention provides an improved connector or clasp of the foldable type which when closed or folded may be adjusted and held in a plurality of adjusted positions to hold the foldable members in locked relation, and further provides means operable upon a movement of the slidable-member for automatically causing a partial separation of the foldable members which greatly facilitates the operation of expanding the connector by the user for removal from the Wrist.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that modications may be made in the construction Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A connector having -a plurality of foldable members comprising a slide-member movable end' Wise in one direction relative to one of said foldable members to extend said connector, means on one of said foldable members engaging said slide-member to hold said foldable members in fixed folded relation when folded, and means for causing a separation of said foldable members upon a movement of said slide-member in an opposite direction.

2. An extensible connector for a bracelet comprising a plurality of members hinged together to fold or unfold to contract or expand the bracelet, a slide-member carried by one of said members and movable endwise to increase or de crease the length of the connector, means for holding the members in folded fixed relation, and means for causing a release and separation of said members upon a selected mov-ement of said slidemember.

3. An extensible connector for a bracelet comprising a plurality of members hinged together to fold or unfold to contract or expand the bracelet, a slide-member carried by one of said members and movable endwise to increase or decrease the length of the connector, resilient means for normally moving the slide-member to an extended position, means on another of said members for engaging said slide-member to hold the members in fixed folded relation, and means for causing a release of said members upon a selected movement of said slide-member in a direction opposing the force exerted by said resilient means.

4. A connector having a plurality of foldable members comprising a slide-member movable in guides on one of said foldable members, a pawl on said slidemember, a ratchet on another of said foldable members said pawl and ratchet cooperating when engaged to hold said foldable members in xed folded relation when folded and a resilient member for holding said pawl engaged with said ratchet.

5. A connector having a plurality of foldable members comprising a slide-member movable in guides on one of said foldable members, a pawl on said slide-member, a ratchet on another of said foldable members, said pawl and ratchet cooperating when engaged to hold said foldable members in xed relation When said foldable members are in folded relation and means for causing a separation of said foldable members upon a movement of said slide-member.

6. An extensible connector comprising a plurality of members hinged together to fold or unfold, a slide-member movable in one of said members, a resilient member for normally urging said slide-member to an extended position with respect to said member, means on another of said members for engaging said slide-member to hold said members in xed folded relation when folded, and means on said slide-member and another of said members for causing a separation of said members when said slide-member is moved toward said resilient member.y

7. A connector having a plurality of foldable members comprising a slide-member carried by one of said foldable members, means on another of said slidable members for engaging said slidemember to lock the foldable members in fixed relation when said members are folded and a resilient member for holding said means engaged with said slide-member.

8. A connector having a plurality of foldable members comprising a slide-member movable endwise in guides on one of said foldable mem bers, a pawl on said slide-member, a plurality of teeth on another of said foldable members for engaging said pawl to hold said members in xed relation When folded, a spring for moving said slide-member in a direction to be engaged by one of said teeth to lock said folded members in xed folded rel-ation when said slide-member is in one of a plurality of adjusted positions, and means integral with said teeth for causing e, separation of said foldable members when said slidemember is moved in opposition to the force exerted by said spring.

9. A connector having a plurality of foldable members, including a top-member and a bottommember, a slide-member movable endwise in said top-member, a pawl on said slide-member, resilient means for normally moving said slide-member in one direction relative to said top-member when said members are in unfoldedrelation, a plurality of teeth on said bottom-member, said teeth being formed to provide slots to receive said pawl, said pawl being engageable with said teeth to prevent said foldable members from unfolding and to separate said foldable members when said slide-member is moved in an opposite direction.

WILLY MAUCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,641,372 Chilson Sept. 6, 1927 1,863,917 Bigney et al June 21, 1932 1,893,271 Carlson Jan. 3, 1933 1,920,739 Bernard Aug. 1, 1933 1,948,610 Barrowman Feb. 2'7, 1934 1,985,835 Prestinari Dec. 25, 1934 2,159,080 Goulden n,--- May 23, 1939 

